New Delhi: After being declared as a Padma Bhushan Awardee 2022, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said that he rejects the award, as confirmed by sources. Bhattacharjee is also a former member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India and has served as the CM of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011. Bhattacharjee is among the 17 Padma Bhushan awardees declared by the Government of India on Tuesday, ahead of the 73rd Republic Day o be celebrated tomorrow.
He was one of the two opposition leaders, other than Ghulam Nabi Azad, to have been presented the title of the Padma Vibhushan. In a statement, the former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said, "I know nothing about this award. No one has told me anything about it. If they have decided to offer Padma Bhushan to me, I refuse to accept it."
The Union Home Ministry informed the wife of ailing Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee about the government's decision to give him Padma Bhushan before announcing his name and no one from his family objected to it, official sources said Tuesday night, after the former chief minister of West Bengal refused the award.
